Dave Hogenauer on the South Mountain Reservation

Dave Hogenauer will cover these questions and more: Who owned the land prior to it becoming a park? Where did the idea of the park come from? How did plans change regarding the boundaries of the park? What happened to the rock at Washington Rock? Did Asher Durand paint in the Reservation? Did the Olmsteads plan the park? Dave Hogenauer has been leading historical tours of the park since 2008, doing research at the park archives as well as the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society and elsewhere. He is in the process of writing a book about the park at this time. He was a teacher of history and social studies at Columbia High School for 32 years, retiring in 1996. He most recently wrote a history of Prospect Presbyterian Church in Maplewood for its Centennial celebration. He currently is very active in volunteering for the South Mountain Conservancy in leading hikes, maintaining trails, and clearing trees that fall across those routes. In addition he leads hikes throughout northern New Jersey and southern N.Y. and volunteers with the Appalachian Mountain Club as a naturalist and information desk person in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire. The Ethical Culture Society of Essex County is a progressive non-theist religion dedicated to living ethically in a complex world. Founded in l876 and established in Maplewood in l945, over the years the ethical culture movement (known as The American Ethical Union) has been instrumental in launching Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, Visiting Nurses, New York Settlement House, Fieldston School, and National Ethical Service at the UN. The Society began a long-running Ethics for Children program and most recently, Essex Time Exchange (a time bank facilitating the exchange of services) among other initiatives. The Maplewood Society was the first peace site in the country. Its motto is: to act so as to bring out the best in ourselves by bringing out the best in others. Contact information: 973-763-1905; www.essexethical.org. Join us for weekly programs, discussions, and fellowship Sundays at 11 am. All are welcome.